Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
Highland
I listened to Neela’s giggles ring out as my brother Tunk tossed her in the air.
Cece was sitting next to me, coloring, completely in her own little world right now.
The girls requested to spend the day with their favorite uncle, and of course he welcomed them with open arms. We were currently in his backyard with my pops on the grill.
It was Sunday, which meant family day for us.
It had been another long week. Since Monday morning it felt as if I hadn’t seen them.
I had been down in the Keys. From starting the cleaning process at the house for our stay to the private yacht parties I had been doing all week, I hadn’t been able to pick the girls up from camp.
Sometimes not making it home until well into the evening.
My dad stepped up with the girls for me, which helped a lot, but this had been the reason I had them in summer camp; so it would give us all a little break during the day and keep the girls busy.
After being late every day the first week, I knew I had to add him to the pickup list. It was by the grace of God that the counselor didn’t say anything when I picked them up fifteen minutes late that Friday she had them on the playground.
She wasn’t the one I had been seeing waiting with them though; so maybe she wasn’t aware that I was a previous offender when it came to being late.
But, to ensure the girls didn’t miss out because of me, I called Kelvin to help out.
“Look, Daddy, I can fly!” Neela called out just as Tunk tossed her up once more.
I looked at my girl and consciously made a decision to be more present. I yearned for more moments like this.
I smiled widely. “I see you, baby.”
I then put my attention on Kelvin.
“You don’t have to get the girls this week. I’ma move some stuff around to be down here on time.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind. I’m not even ten minutes away since I be at Brewed Bean anyway reading my paper.”
“Yeah. I’m sure. You help me out during the school year enough as is. You deserve a break too. Plus, I want more of these moments with them. I don’t want the girls to look back and only see you and Tunk and remember that I worked all the time.”
“Highland, you work to provide for them, they know that, and they love you.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t satisfied. I could do better. I had to be better for them. Yeah, they had my pops and brother, but in the end, I was the only parent they had left. It was an honor and privilege to raise them and they deserved to know.
“And they gon’ know I was around by seeing me here.” My decision was final as I leaned down and kissed Ceona’s forehead, making her smile before pushing me off.
“Daddy, you made me mess up.” I looked down at the yellow line hanging out of the sun on the coloring page. I snatched her up, making her fall into a fit of giggles as I began to tickle her.
“My bad, baby girl, I thought I saw the tickle monster on you. Do you see him?” This was a game I hadn’t played with them since Neela was damn near a baby.
Ceona was laughing so hard that she couldn’t even get her answer out.
“There he is.” I tickled her underarm, making her squirm, trying to get away from me. By now Neela was making her way over to us.
“No wait, I think he’s on Neela now.” I released Ceona before moving to Neela now who yelped before taking off in the other direction which had me and my brother both laughing since she was the one who came over here.
I snatched her up and instantly began tickling her stomach, making her laugh and yelp more from excitement.
“Oh snap, Tunk, I might need your help. I think he’s multiplied somehow. He’s on Ceona now too. Don’t let him get away; we gotta stop him.” My brother was on the move to get his niece who tried running away.
We spent the next ten minutes tickling and chasing the girls around his backyard until Pops told us the food was ready.
I swear time was never on my side as I rushed to the park.
I was better today but still pushing it.
I even left the island early but got caught up doing an interview for a seasonal skipper.
It was crazy how I’d mentioned it to Tate and he had the perfect person in mind.
I didn’t want to miss the chance so I set up an interview the same day for his cousin Amber.
I never had a female skipper, but she was perfect, already having experience.
I was happy as hell to find someone to help me out, but now I was damn near late again, not even twelve hours after telling my pops I had it from here.
I parked and saw them on the playground with the same counselor from the last time I picked them up late and prayed she showed me the same grace as before. My mouth was moving as soon as I approached the playground.
“My bad about being late. I swear today is the last day I will be late,” I said, waving the girls over to me.
“It’s okay. I was already here picking my son up.
When I didn’t see your dad, I told the counselor they were with me.
I hope it was okay. Their policy on tardiness is strict, and from one parent to another, I wanted to help.
” Her response had me glancing around for the extra person.
My eyes landed on a little boy running around on the playground.
I then put my gaze back on her as I looked her up and down, taking her all in.
She was beautiful. Smooth chestnut colored skin, a warm smile that matched her soft eyes, and the cutest dimples attached to her gorgeous smile.
I couldn’t help but notice her thick ass thighs in the process and swore I could see that ass sitting nice as fuck from the front.
I licked my lips, still caught up in a daze.
It wasn’t until Neela grabbed my hand that I moved my eyes back to an appropriate position on the stranger who was kind enough to wait for my kids again.
“Oh umm…” I cleared my throat and my thoughts.
“Yeah, naw I appreciate you. I’m usually more tactful with my time, well, I’m working on it. I had an interview that had me losing track of time. I’ll do better tomorrow. I hope I didn’t hold you up though.” She shook her head.
“Not at all. Like I said, I’m always here, picking up my son.
And our kids kinda keep me and your dad here pass the allotted time anyways.
” We stood there for a minute longer, just silent and staring at each other, but it didn’t feel as creepy as it should’ve considering we didn’t even know each other’s names.
Well tell her yours, fool.
I opened my mouth to do just that when Ceona dragging out my title and her son coming over pulled both of our attention from each other and onto the little people who demanded it instead.
“Come on, Daddy, I’m hungry. They had bologna again today.” Now Ceona was doing her best to pull me toward the car. I glanced back toward the beautiful stranger who was now facing her son with her knees bent slightly, giving me the perfect opportunity to confirm what I already knew was true.
Gotdamn.
“Daddy!” Ceona snapping on me had me remembering where I was but also needing to remind her who I was.
“Ceona, I heard you. Take Neela to the car, I’m coming.” Of course, by the time I turned back around to at least exchange names with the beautiful stranger, she was already on the move toward her car.
Shit.
You’ll see her tomorrow.
With that thought, I turned and headed toward my car so I could get my girls situated before I took them for food.
The girls and I sat in BJ’s with Neela dipping her fries in the ketchup far too many times and Ceona only drinking her chocolate and vanilla shake.
When I tell you this was their favorite spot, I’d become accustomed to eating here at least twice a week.
I waited a minute before I asked the question that had been on my mind since we left the park a half hour ago.
“So, you made a friend, Cece?” I figured this was the best way to approach the conversation. The girls weren’t used to me dating and I wasn’t sure how they would even feel about me asking questions about one of their friends’ moms.
Man, they not even old enough to know why you would ask.
“Yeah, his name is Jo-Jo. He goes to Little Einstein’s though.
Can I go there next year? He says his dad is a Marine.
What is a Marine, daddy? Is it like a Navy man like you used to be?
” I didn’t want to talk about him though, so I quickly brushed over my answer to get to the main source for my line of questioning.
“Yeah. Something like that. They help to defend our country in a different way than what I used to do. What about his mom? Do you know her name?” I asked nonchalantly.
“Ms. Liv, Daddy.” Neela answered this time as she dipped the last tiny piece of her fry into the ketchup.
“Okay. Is she there a lot? Have you met Jo-Jo’s dad?”
Cece shook her head. “No. Jo-Jo said he’s coming home soon.
Ms. Liv is there all the time though. She’s nice.
She brings us snacks all the time. The other day she brought us popsicles.
Red ones! They were good, Daddy. Papa met her,” Cece said as she finally put her cup down to take a bite out of her burger.
Damn, so she’s not even single.
You don’t know that.
I was trying to stay optimistic and hopeful with my thoughts about Olive.
At least you have a name.
A beautiful name at that.
I began to wonder why my pops hadn’t mentioned her at all.
Kelvin was good for bringing up potentials he thought either Tunk or I should date, even when we told him we were good.
Since he had the girls a lot, he met a lot of women, and we heard about them all.
From the grocery store runs to the single ladies at church and the coffee shop he was a regular at.
“Oh wow, the red ones are the best. Well, that was nice of her. I hope you two told her thank you,” I said and of course their little heads began to bob up and down.
“Ooh, Daddy, can we do something nice for her and Jo-Jo next since Ms. Liv always brings us popsicles and stuff?” Ceona asked through a muffled tone since her mouth was still full of food.
I loved that my baby girl was always looking for ways to return the favor or pay it forward.
That was her mother coming out of her. And since I wanted another excuse to be back in Olive’s face, I didn’t waste any time agreeing.
Ceona just didn’t know she was helping her poor dad out in that department.
“Of course, Cece. What did you have in mind? I can bring popsicles for y’all tomorrow but what about Ms. Liv? Do you want to give her one too?” I asked as I took a sip of my milkshake.
“No, she likes wine.” I coughed hard, choking on my shake as my brows bunched together and I narrowed my eyes at her in confusion on how and why Ceona knew that bit of information.
“And how do you know that, Cece?”
“Jo-Jo told me one day. He wants to get her some too. He said she works a lot and he knows she likes it. He said she’s always in a better mood when she has some.
Daddy, what is wine? Can I have some too?
” I laughed at her son letting out all her secrets to the world.
Well, to my seven-year-old who would tell the world if she could.
“No. It’s a grown-up drink only and I can’t bring that to the park with me. So, we’ll have to think of something else. Maybe a slushie instead of the popsicle.” Ceona tilted her head and tapped her chin, making me chuckle.
“Okay, but maybe we can all get them. Can I get a blue one?”
I nodded. “Okay, so, tomorrow I’m bringing slushies and you two can’t ruin the surprise to Jo-Jo before I get there, okay?” They nodded but I wasn’t too convinced about Ceona not telling Jo-Jo. I was sure Neela would forget until she got her cup in her hand tomorrow.
I held out my pinkies, waiting for Ceona and Neela to lock their tiny ones around mine as they both giggled wildly.
“Deal.”
Then it was set, I now had a solid plan to spark up a conversation with Olive tomorrow and I couldn’t wait.